Method and packing structure for high packing handled baskets with fruit



Oct. 26, 1948.

v J. A. M CORMICK 2,452,204

METHOD AND PACKING STRUCTURE FOR HIGH PQCKING HANDLED BASKETS WITH FRUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1944 Z HI ocg. 26, 1948. J. A. MCCORMICK 2,452,204

METHOD AND PACKING STRUCTURE FOR HIGH PACKING HANDLED BASKETS WITH FRUIT Filed Jan. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 26, 1948 METHOD AND PACKING STRUCTURE FOR HIGH PACKING HANDLED BASKETS WITH FRUIT James A. McCormick, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Fruit and Produce Packing, Incorporated, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation Application January 22, 1944, Serial No. 519,316

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the packing of fruits,

vegetables and the like, and is a continuation-inpart of the prior copending application, Serial No. 345,077, filed July 12, 1940, now Patent Number 2,382,891, dated August 14, 1945, entitled Shippingand display high pack container. ,The chief object of the invention is to obtain a high, even face Without crushing or bruising the contents of a container such as fruits, berries, vegetables and the like. Contents so packed will hold up longer and will not bruise, deteriorate or mold in packing, transit and/ or storage, as compared to like contents packed in boxes or baskets .until'overfull with the lid crushed down on the contents The chief feature of the present invention resides in packing such a container in inverted position while the bottom thereof is-open, and when packed closing the bottom and inverting the container; or after inversion'as desired.

.It is to be noted the inverted packing permits of face packing, wherein the subsequent top layer, which later is exposed upon lid removal, may be of uniform choice character. Since this layeris not bruised, etc., by lid crushing application, the container contents command a premium over the similar contents packed in the conventionel man ner.

' This method of packing distinguishes from the so-called Hiatt system wherein the fruit is face packed in inverted position in a liner positioned within a shellv over which the container is applied in inverted position, and upon inverting, the shell is removed and the container shaken to settle thecontents and liner to container conformation. The Hiatt system utilizes a closed bottom container applied after thecontents are assembled and, packed. The invention herein provides for initially packing an open bottom container in inverted position, permitting of face packing with all its advantages. Thereupon the container bot-- tom is closed, and the face packed container is inverted with or without the lid thereon. In the The lid may be applied before filling latterinstance the lid may be subsequently apj after the basket is packed and ready for transit,

etc., all without crushing injury to the contents as has'heretofore been the case when a full pack has been-made in the conventional manner and the lid or cover last applied.

This system also readily lends itself to the packs ing of handled baskets orboxes, particularly those of the inverted U--shape handle type, impossible of use in the Hiatt system and with I-Iiatt or similar instrumentalities. The invention also relates to the packing form or container support for a container with or without a handle. However, since the system may best be disclosed in connection with a handled basket and the packing form or support therefor, reference will first be had to such structure.

The full nature of the invention will be under-' stood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings'Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an uncovered handled container, similar to a conventional grape basket with its contents, intended to be fully and face packed therein, omitted for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the form itilized herein.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the basket in the form prior to packing.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional View of the form and associated unpacked basket, dotted lines indicating the closed bottom position; after full packing has been effected.

Fig. 5 is a central transverse sectional view taken at right angles ,to Fig. 4 and of the same parts, dotted lines again indicating the closed bottom position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and of a modifled. form of structure suitable for high pack operation, the facing layer only also being shown.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and of the same basket and form, the basket being shown provided with a cover C for small fruit, etc., retention.

In the drawings there is shown a container in the form of a basket wherein l0 indicates a pair of side walls and H a pair of end Walls. Said walls are sequentially connected together in any desired manner, usually being integral and crease scored except for one corner where a tape [2 may be used as a connector. Each wall carries a cult forming flap, all having a common width and be-. ing coextensive with the supporting walls to which they are, connected. by crease scores forming smooth edges. Said fiapsare independent of each a other and are designated by numerals low and Ila, the corresponding smooth edge connections being designated by numerals Iflb and Ill). The connections lllb are slotted at 13 to pass the adjacent end 16 of the inverted U-shaped strap handle I which is conventional to grape baskets and the like. rS-taples l4 secure:the cuff and handle to the walls I0.

Each wall includes a bottom forming flap integral therewith which is crease score connected thereto independent of each other. End walls H have flaps II thereon and side walls HI have-flaps I8 thereon. At least one pair of flaps each have a width approximately half of the bottom width, and all flaps have a length-equal to the length of its supporting wall. Adjacent flaps lap each other as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, flaps l8 when closed down forming the bottom. These flaps are suitably secured together by adhesive between flaps I! and I8 where lapped and/or by'the adhesive tape 20 which laps the adjacent edges of flaps I8 and is anchored to the ends II. This closure is effected only after the open bottom container is filled, any closing pressure being applied to the bottom layer .of the container contents.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 2 to l w-hereinthe packing form or supportis illustrated. Herein'four sequentially connected wall and leg portions 2| and 22 may be connected as by corner tape 23. When a lap joint connection is utilized,

it is positioned externally to insure a smooth interior wall formation. Intermediate the top and bottom edges there is an internally positioned platform 24 which is. slottedat 25 for receiving and'nesting the container handle. This platform is integral with four leg forming flaps 26, the height thereof being sufficient to space the platformat' an elevation at least sufficient to permit handle 55, when .in slot 25, to clear the form supporting surface. The individual legs26 of the platform may be secured to the wall'and leg portions 21 and 22 by staples 21,

The top edge of the wall and leg portions 2|, 22 is positioned above the platform. 24 so that the container nested therein, when filled and bottom closed, may be reinverted to normal position with the faced upper layer of its contents undisturbed. In this position the form rests over and upon the packed container.

The form is then liftedfrom the container and inverted, whereupon another container, in open bottom condition, is applied thereto and packed in the manner above described. Whenever desired or required, see Fig. 7, particularly when fruit such as berries are being packed, the cover or lid C is first applied to the container before nesting it in the form. With this arrangement the lidserves as the facing plate and prevents small articles from dropping through theslot '25. When peach-es, plums, tomatoes, grapespetc are to be packed, the cover may be applied after the container is filled. Since the faced layer is the one that is cover contacted and is selected-and therein and project therebeneath.

prearranged, it will-present a choice uncr-ushed or unbruised pack when opened.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a modified form of the invention. Like the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 the board material may be corrugated, see Fig. 3.

In'Fig. 6 numerals similar to those utilized in Hereimfor example, a Cellophane sheet or other flexible cover net, etc., is positioned in the basket before any filling or packing occurs. Herein N32 indicates such a sheet and I03 the inturnedfbasket retained edges thereof. When the fruit is packed thereon, naturally it is face packed, and a bulge or high pack results, that is thesubsequent top layer projects above the top edge of the basket and the edges I03 of sheet I02 remain tucked in the basket when inverted and ready for shipment. This modification has the additional advantage when no cover is to be used, that no fruit ever engages plate I24. Hence, danger of mold transfer, etc. is eliminated. Except for the distinctions just mentioned, operation herein is as previously set forth.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. The method of packing fruits, vegetables, and the like in a handled container having bottom forming portions, consisting in inverting the container and nesting it in a receiving and sup porting form of a depth at least as great as the height of the container handle, and apertured for handle reception, the container having its bottom opened when nested in said form and its handle extending through the aperture therein, packing said container through the open bottom thereof and while in inverted position, closing the portions and securing them in closed bottom position over the pack, inverting the form and packed container nested therein, and then removing the form from the packed container.

2. The method defined by claim 1, including the step of applying a cover to the container prior to nesting it in theform to provide the facing plate for receiving and supporting the pack before inversion and removal of the form.

3. The method defined by claim 1, including the step of applying a cover to the face packed container after removing the form therefrom.

4. The method of packing a handled basket having bottom forming portions disposed in open position, consisting in inverting the basket with its bottom portions in open position, nesting the inverted basket in a form with the handle thereof extending downwardly therein, said form being provided with a facing plate supporting the basket, packing said basket through its open bottom with the contents faced and supported by said facing plate, closing and securing the bot-- tom portions of the basket after the packing thereof, inverting the basket and form and lifting' the form from the basket.

5. A packing structure including a basket tobe packed having a handle secured at opposite ends the step of applying to the container a covering for the open top thereof prior to packing the container, and of a size greater than the container top area, surplus covering being positioned within the container adjacent the top thereof and retained therein by the subsequently packed fruit and the like, the face packing initially projecting beyond the container tops for bulge pack formation.

JAMES A. MCCQRMICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 342,473 Stout May 25, 1886 387,140 Buck July 31, 1888 1,639,487 Collis Aug. 16, 1927 1,865,361 Ehrenhardt June 28, 1932 1,931,329 Sherman Oct. 17, 1933 2,028,567 Sheller Jan. 21, 1936 2,261,594 Stevens Nov. 4, 1941 2,296,664 Hall Sept. 22, 1942 

